MORNING BRIEFING

The Tap Runs Dry in Philly After Avalanche of Snowballs

Snow and alcohol don't mix, at least not at city-owned Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia.

Because of snowball throwing and brawling Sunday at the Eagles-Dallas Cowboys game, the Eagles have announced a ban on alcoholic beverages in the stadium and at tailgate parties in surrounding parking lots.

The snowball attacks worsened as Sunday's game wore on. The Cowboys might have been the primary targets, but snow and ice hit officials, Eagle cheerleaders and fans sitting in the line of fire.

As the Cowboys left the field after a 20-10 loss, fans poured snow, ice and beer on them. A policeman guarding Dallas Coach Jimmy Johnson was hit in the face by a snowball and was treated by team trainers.

Eagle owner Norman Braman said nearly 70 fans thrown out of the stadium will lose their season tickets.

Trivia time: The average active NFL head coach spent 9 1/2 years as an assistant. Which one spent the longest time as an assistant?

Send in the clowns: The Pittsburgh Steelers' official publication, Steeler Digest, on the team's 23-16 loss to the Houston Oilers in the snow Dec. 3: "Referee Ben Dreith and his crew were horrible, and the league office might want to consider issuing them mini-tricycles, big floppy rubber feet and plastic carnations that squirt water, because if they're going to act like them, they might as well look like them."

Fresh infusion: Tired of seeing yet another early knockout by Mike Tyson or a walk-through such as last week's " Uno Mas " fight? Glasnost might put excitement back in the sweet science.

Seven Soviet boxers, all champions in their weight classes, announced in Toronto that they would begin training there for professional bouts.

New York promoter Lou Falcigno, who has a deal with the Soviets, said: "One fight between a Soviet heavyweight, of course with the right buildup, and a Mike Tyson could easily be worth a quarter of a billion dollars."

Heavyweight Alexander Burmistrov, 26, has 157 victories in 169 fights. Through an interpreter, Burmistrov said he eventually would defeat Tyson.

Add Soviets: Alexander Smirnoff, a defenseman for the touring Khimik team of the Soviet Union, after playing against the Kings, the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames: "I think (the Flames) are a great team and deserve to win the Stanley Cup. Their style is closest to the European style of hockey. I think the team plays a style closest to our team, even though they are physical at times."

So far so good: Carl Barger, president of the Pittsburgh Pirates, on the free-agent market: "There's always a big fear when you sign free agents. I'm frightened. But we have some quality people coming aboard. We didn't get any George Hendrickses."

Trivia answer: The Minnesota Vikings' Jerry Burns, 20 years.

Quotebook: Former Dodger Steve Sax of the New York Yankees attended the Roberto Duran-Sugar Ray Leonard fight Thursday night, along with teammate Don Mattingly: "We had good seats. We were 30 feet from the ring. Just outside sweat range."